Deshaun Watson faces an uphill battle as he eyes a return to the Cleveland Browns’ active roster. After tearing his Achilles twice—once in October 2024 and again during his recovery—Watson’s journey back to the field is fraught with challenges. He will spend at least the first four weeks on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, as reported by Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
There’s a glimmer of hope for Watson fans, as one league source suggested he might start practicing by October. The Browns, however, are in no rush to open that practice window until they’re certain about his fitness, which would be approximately nine months post-surgery. Once he hits the practice field, Cleveland will have a 21-day period to decide on activating him or shelving him for the rest of the season.
The Browns are not banking on Watson making a dramatic season comeback. Realistically, we might see him around late November or early December, but everything hinges on medical clearance. Even with that green light, nothing guarantees he’ll see any game action this season.
It was a turbulent spring for Watson, with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam hinting Watson’s days might be numbered in Cleveland. The franchise’s $230M investment in 2022 hasn’t paid off as expected, especially with Watson making just 19 starts following an 11-game suspension due to off-field misconduct allegations. His performance hasn’t inspired much faith either, with a QBR that would have ranked him last in the league had he qualified.
In the meantime, Cleveland has overhauled their quarterback depth chart. They acquired Kenny Pickett from the Philadelphia Eagles and added veteran Joe Flacco. Adding to that mix are rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders picked up in this year’s draft. Despite the competition, Watson has embraced the role of a supportive teammate, reportedly offering guidance and encouragement, particularly to the rookie quarterbacks Gabriel and Sanders as they compete for roles in the Browns’ quarterback lineup.
Looking ahead, as we stand on the cusp of the new season, Joe Flacco appears favored to lead the Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 7, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with slight advantages over Pickett, Gabriel, and Sanders in the quarterback pecking order.
As training camp unfolds under the summer sun, Watson will remain more of a backroom presence than an on-field leader. Although the future holds uncertainties, if the stars align—health permitting—Watson might just find himself back in the quarterback conversation for Cleveland toward the end of the 2025 campaign.
